Style

Cocktails and Steaks

Posted by Brian Newman on October 8, 2012
Posted in: Chicks, Influential Men, MANLAWS, Style. Leave a comment

Sick of the same old, same old? You met a nice girl? You and the boys are sick of the sports bar? You’re in the doghouse and you need to get out? Living in New York City can be a stressful place to work and live sometimes. A good way to remedy these situations and blow off some steam, is to go out for a night on the town with the people you care about most. Heres a few spots for dinner and a nice spot to go for some classy drinks afterwards. So put a suit on, make whatever phone calls you need to and hit the streets. 

For a truly superb evening around Union Square area, start with dinner at BLT Prime  The popovers are huge and steaming hot to start. Order the Potato Skins with freshly shaved truffles,  Japanese Kobe beef by the ounce and  a nice bottle of cabernet from their extensive list. After dinner head right around the corner to The Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel. The walls are lined with the likes of Warhol and Basquiat. With cocktails and decor that seems to attracts an air of new world glamour and old world sex. Be sure to get a reservation for a table after 10pm but if you want to come early and hear the band swing,  I am there every Tuesday and Thursday night form 8 to 10pm. If you still aren’t partied out by all the food, drinking and dancing at Prime and the Rose, hit late night art deco’d mixologists dream, The Flatiron Lounge. With its Tiffany stained glassed 1930’s bar, speakeasy vibe and strong but well balanced cocktails.  You’ll leave more than satisfied.  

Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel

There are so many different places to go in New York city. I am just giving you a few options. Do your research in neighborhoods that you dig and and pick places that fit the vibe your going for, for that specific occasion. Sometimes a good night should be tailored like a fine suit. Sometimes its good to wing it.

Keen’s SteakHouse “Bullmoose Room” NYC

Gentleman, wherever you choose to go with friends, girlfriends or coworkers please do it in style. Hold the door open, be polite, say please and thank you and take care of the waitstaff. Don’t be a Bull Moose, be a man. 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…

Advertisement

Find A Good Fit

Posted by Brian Newman on September 24, 2012
Posted in: MANLAWS, Style. Leave a comment

 In this day and age of disposable fashion, dressing yourself is a very easy thing to do wrong. The modern Man’s suit is one of the leading culprits of how bad things can happen to good people. The cheaper “off the rack” suits made these days are always cut way to big. You are just saving a little bit of dough for a product that often just doesn’t fit you right and will wear out much faster. The “Sack Suit” below, is most of whats being sold at Menswear outlets in the city and especially the outlets across the midwest. The natural-shoulders are shapeless, there is no curve to the rib cage and the arms look like big paper towel tubes. Whether you’re thin as a rail, you never skip a meal or just an average joe, a suit should be an extension to your shape and personality, no matter your body type. Contrary to popular belief, having a more fitted suit will actually make you appear thinner. Although the “Sack” has been part of the American Businessman’s lifestyle for over 100 years, I feel that it lacks any sense of character or personality.  Its strictly business and that is exactly what it looks like. Congrats to the cat that made the first one though. Not sure what it is but you nailed it.  As pianist, Alex Smith, once said so eloquently, “You’re gonna tolerate the way you look. I guarantee it.” 

When shopping for a new suit try to look for a more European suiting style. Is much more form fitting and better looking for all parties involved.  The shoulders have shape and character. The waist should be drawn in below the rib cage and the arms should be fitted up to the shoulders.  These subtle changes will make a huge difference in the appearance and fitment of your clothes. I promise you’ll feel like a new man.

Below are some options of places to go in New York City to find the perfect fit for your budget.

————

BY ROBERT JAMES  — One of my favorite designers in New York.  Always has what I need to make me look my best. He offers Custom work, off the rack, suit jackets, plums, jeans, great coats. Everything you need for a fitted wardrobe to make the ladies scream. Plus he’s a super cool dude. 

————

CRAIG ROBINSON  — If you’re looking for high end, handmade, bespoke tailoring with nothing but the best materials and the utmost knowledge of the art-form, search no further. Craig is a truly established atelier and has been creating and shaping his own unique style for years. 

————

DOYLE MUESER — From Amber Doyle and Jake Mueser, also specializing in fine Menswear.  Custom and made to measure.   Suits, sport-coats, shirts,  shoes and ties with a woman’s touch. Which is always a good thing. 

————

TOPMAN —I wouldn’t normally recommend a chain store because I like to give the money to local business, but I wanted to throw this one is for the cats who really need to keep the budget low. You can get a suit here for less than 400 bucks with a new shirt, new tie and shoes.  Just make sure you pick out a suit with good fabric and spend the extra 40 bucks  on alterations at your local tailor.  

————

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…

The Art of the Bow Tie

Posted by Brian Newman on June 25, 2012
Posted in: Style. 1 Comment

To learn the Art of the Bow-Tie can be a daunting task for any gentleman. First, you have to feel comfortable wearing it, but the real tough part is that you have to learn how to tie it. You can’t walk around with a clip on bow tie. It may take some time but you must learn how to tie a “Self-Tie” Bow-Tie. There are many different web images that can teach you how to do it. Here’s one I found from the back of an old beer coaster. 

The King of Bow Ties

If you ask most people about bow ties, they think of waiters, pink shirts, weddings, the Hamptons, cummerbunds, plaid fabric, lameness and dudes that graduated from Harvard in the 50’s.  I’m sure this cats thoughts about the dewey decimal system were fascinating, but wearing a bow tie around doesn’t mean you have to be a square.

File:Daniel Boorstin.jpg

Librarian of Congress and Harvard Grad Daniel Boorstin

The bow tie has been worn since the 17th Century by all different sorts of guys, for all different forms and functions. It was originally used to hold together the top of a mans shirt. Here’s one of the first forms of bow tie, the “Cravat” modeled by a Croatian solider employed by King Louis XIV.

File:Origin NeckTie.JPG

Croatian Soldier

The bow tie’s popularity soon grew out of necessity to men in certain professions. Pediatricians used them so children would not be able to grab their necktie. Another example of form following function is the vintage gas station attendant. You can’t be draggin’ your necktie through peoples engine compartments while you’re checking the oil and the tire pressure but you can still look professional doing it.  

Gas Station Attendant

Natually, once people with money to burn get into them, it became another accessory for formal dinners and events. The masters below have contributed and perfected the various styles of the Bow Tie through the years. 

Abraham Lincoln

Winston Churchill

Groucho Marx

There are so many styles and colors that can fit in with your vibe. Next time the occasion calls for it, tie one on and feel your best. 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…


Dinner for Two

Posted by Brian Newman on February 27, 2012
Posted in: Chicks, Style. Leave a comment

Fixing a home cooked meal for with a nice few bottles of wine can be one of the most enjoyable, romantic and delicious things to do with your woman. Find me a girl who doesn’t like a man who can handle himself in the kitchen and you can keep her. So, clean up the house, go to the butcher shop, the grocer, put on something nice and follow this recipe below to ensure a successful evening.

Gallopinggourmet1_2

PORTERHOUSE & ROASTED VEGETABLES

Find a butcher that specializes in Dry-Aged Beef. It makes a huge difference in taste and is always worth the extra money. I go to the Meat Hook here in Brooklyn whenever I get a chance. Ask the butcher for a nice sized Porterhouse for two. It should be around 30 to 40 oz and about an inch and a quarter thick to be considered a true Porterhouse. Otherwise its just a T-Bone steak.

It has two different cuts of beef on the bone. The right side is the NY strip cut and the other is the tenderloin or filet..

Dust it pretty good with course ground sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Wrap it back up in its paper from the butcher put it in the fridge.

Start with the vegetables so everything is done at the same time. You can cut the pieces big because they will be roasting for a while.

1 Cauliflower Bunch (clean and separate into pieces)

1 Bag of Brussel Sprouts (Cleaned, halved and brown and yellow pieces trimmed off)

1 Package of Baby Porta bella mushrooms (Cleaned and halved)

1 whole red Onion (cut into chunks)

8 Cloves of Garlic (whole or halved)

You can add any other vegetables you really like carrots, peppers. Butternut squash is also really good peeled, chopped and roasted. You can even roast the seeds and throw them in a salad or eat them as a snack.

Toss all vegetables in a large bowl and thoroughly cover with Olive Oil, salt and pepper. Pour the vegetables onto a baking sheet and put in a pre-heated oven at 350 Degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how crispy you like them.

When the veggies are about 15 minutes before being done, take out the Porterhouse and heat up a large cast iron grill pan on the stovetop and turn your broiler on high. Sear both sides of the steak (about a minute on each side) then throw the whole pan into the broiler for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. A little less or more depending on your taste.

When the steak is done slice and serve immediately with the roasted vegetables and a nice bottle of vino. One of my favorite wines with a porterhouse is nice Bertani, Amarone. Enjoy the meal and I hope it works as well for you as it did for me.

;

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…



;

;

;

Valentine’s Day

Posted by Brian Newman on February 20, 2012
Posted in: Chicks, Style. Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day. A holiday thats so close to Christmas, we don’t always have much dough to shell out for something super fancy. Especially for a holiday that was invented by Hallmark to sell us more stuff we don’t need. As Men, we understand this because we are rational human beings who can go a month without eating chocolate. When dealing with the fairer sex it’s never exact science and as always, to win the game you have to play it, so here goes. 

If you’re woman really loves you she’ll be happy if you stick to the classics. Chocolates, flowers, candy, etc… If you do that and write her a sincere and honest card, you’ll be gravy, right? Wrong. It’s much more than just buying gifts. You need to treat her like a lady too. You can’t just buy her some stuff you picked up on the 13th and expect her to throw herself at you in a rage of passion. Do more everyday and when the special occasions arrive they will be that much better. 

Everyday should be like Valentine’s Day. Why treat her extra special just one day out of the year? If you truly care about her and how your relationship grows you’ll do little things that say you care everyday. 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…

All In The Details

Posted by Brian Newman on November 28, 2011
Posted in: Influential Men, Style. 1 Comment

“Between the sloven and coxcomb there is generally a competition which shall be the more contemptible: the one in total neglect of every thing which might make his appearance in public supportable, and the other in the cultivation of every superfluous ornament. The former offends by his negligence and dirt, and the latter for his finery and perfumery…and while both are right in their in their opinion, both wrong in their practice”

This is the opening sentence of  “The Gentleman’s Book of Etiquette” chapter called, “Dress,” written around 1860 by Cecil B. Hartley.  We have to find a middle ground of these two extreme examples of man’s ability and inability to dress and act accordingly. Though many of his social cues and etiquette for a Gentleman are outdated, his words keep coming back to one consistent rule. A true Gentleman must pay attention to the details. 

Not to get too deep on you guys this round lets focus on one thing… How to correctly tie a Tie and if you’re feeling ambitious, how to tie a Bow-Tie. Below is a how to from my friends at, http://www.artofmanliness.com. My favorite is the Half Windsor. 

1. Drape the tie around your neck. The wide end should extend about 12 inches below the narrow end of the tie. Cross the wide part of the tie over the narrow end.

2. Bring the wide end around and behind the narrow end.

3. Bring the wide end up and pull it down through the hole between your collar and tie.

4. Bring the wide end around the front, over the narrow end from right to left.

5. Bring the wide end up back through the loop again.

6. Pull the wide end down through the knot in front.

7. Tighten the necktie knot and center it with both hands.

Here is the Bow-Tie video. I prefer an all black silk bow-tie, but thats just me. These dudes get a little weird with the patterns. They may be a bit square but they show you right way to do it!!!

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays...

The Gentlemen’s Pad

Posted by Brian Newman on November 7, 2011
Posted in: Influential Men, Style. 1 Comment

Creating a living space designed for work and pleasure is an important step to being your own man. It brings up questions about who you are and helps shape a most pleasurable existence. “What do I like? What’s my style? What makes me comfortable?” A home is warm and inviting. It should feel like an extension of your skin and the clothes you cover it with. A place to work, to relax, have a drink, cook and entertain guests. Most importantly to have the bird that you’re into be comfortable on the couch with an ice-cold Beefeater martini.   

With a man’s castle, its essence is in the details. There are many things a man can have in his home for the comfort of his own well-being and for the comfort of his guests.  Below is a list of things that you can easily do quickly to improve your habitat.

A must for any gentleman is a well stocked bar. Try and keep two of everything, you never know where the night may take you.

BOOZE:

Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, Scotch, Tequila and Rum

Red Wine, White Wine, Champagne

At least 12 of your favorite Beers

MIXERS:

Seltzer, Tonic, Ginger Ale, OJ and Cranberry. 

GLASSWARE:

Highball, Rocks, Martini, Pints, Wine glasses, Flutes, Cordials (Get vintage crystal if you’re going for old school)

BAR WARE:

Cocktail stirs, bar napkins, bar rags, Bar Spoon, Ice Bucket with Tongs and ICE, Ashtray, Matches, Martini Shaker and mixing glasses. 

You don’t need to know how to bartend to make a cocktail.  Scotch on the rocks and Gin and Tonic is pretty self explanatory. Look up other classic drinks online or buy a bar-tending book. Old Fashioned’s, Hemingway Daiquiri’s, Manhattan’s… Stick with the classics. 

Another essential for any Gentleman’s Pad is a proper place to rest. A bedroom should always be the most comfortable place in your home. We spend an average of 8 hours a day sleeping.  That’s one-third of our whole lives. Spend the money on a good bed, high thread counted sheets, down comforter, duvet and plush pillows. I promise you’ll sleep like a king and it will keep that good woman coming back again and again. 

A comfortable place to cook is another great way to keep your spirits high. Cooking to me is one of the most relaxing things. A well put together meal can help relive stress, create good energy in your home and is all around healthier option than dining out or using the microwave. Try to always buy the best produce, meats and cheeses and call your mother for a good recipe. Here are some kitchen necessities. Just remember to keep it simple.

KNIFE SET:

A nice butcher black knife set with different sized knives for all occasions. Good sets usually include at least 4 steak knives. It should also contain; Butcher, Bread, Paring, utility knife, sandwich knife, sharpening steel and kitchen shears. Also, pick up a nice butchers cutting board and oil it with mineral oil on occasion. It will last you a lifetime. 

POTS AND PANS:

Any decent set of pots and pans will do you right. It shouldn’t cost more than a couple hundred. Some even come with mixing spoons and spatula’s. A really nice cast iron pot is great for roasts at night and eggs and bacon in the morning. 

In conclusion, creating your living space is a great opportunity to find out things about your style. Here’s a great vintage TV special to get you in the cooking mood. From “The Galloping Gourmet,” Mr. Graham Kerr. He’s Old school gentleman to a T. 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMonday’s…


He’s A Professional with a Budweiser

Posted by Brian Newman on October 17, 2011
Posted in: Style. Leave a comment

Drinking. One of my favorite National Pastimes. It’s as American as Blondes, Baseball, small block V8’s and Apple Pie. It brings people together and pulls them apart. It leads them to clubs, lounges, house parties, hotel bars and dives. Anyplace where this beautiful libation is offered, hats and cats are gettin’ loaded. 

For thousands of years it has been produced, bought, consumed, sold, used to pick up girls and heaved back up by people of all classes, races and creeds.  We drink to be social, to relax after work, during work, to relieve stress and some amateurs drink to fit into a crowd. If you’re really hooked on the juice, those 8am jaunts to the “Blarney Stone” and other nefarious “Old Man” bars peppered throughout the boroughs are your bread and butter. The key is to learn to drink professionally or lay off the sauce. Nobody likes a slob, whether you’re a girl or a guy. I’ve seen birds too, drinking way too much, doing some dudes blow in the bathroom and acting like hookers. You know who you are. No class. 

Everyone has a bender once in a while. A bad night out on the town. I’ve done it, my friends have done it and we see it all the time. If you’re boozin’ Irish whiskey and Buds hard all night with a bad attitude, things might get a little weird. It comes with the territory. When drinking and acting like an ass becomes a recurring theme in your life, you should probably take up scrap booking and move home. I’m sure I wouldn’t mind having you around to refresh your mom and I’s daiquiris pool side. 

 

When you’re drinking steadily and not overdoing it, everything is gravy and good vibes are gonna come your way. Pacing yourself is the key to getting drunk gracefully. How will you achieve at life if you’re blacked out drunk every night? One of the many things that I picked up from my father, Tony, was he always said, “Drink in moderation. If you drink a beer and a water and a beer and a water, you’ll be just as drunk but you won’t be sloppy or hungover the next day.”  Now, I’ve never actually seen him utilize this Man manuever but…  He also said, “Do as I say and not as I do,” a lot too. So theres that to think about. Over the years I’ve come to  understand what the man meant by that. You can’t run around double fisting Johnny Black or you’re gonna act like an ass and lose your cool. The people around you might laugh and egg you on but in the end they aren’t your friends and you’re really just the butt of the joke. 

The one and only Tony and Kim Newman

As Gentlemen we have to represent the species as a whole in a positive light. Real women aren’t into drunk jag-off’s. They want substance, character, class and a man who knows how to handle himself even if he’s had a few cocktails. We all make mistakes, myself included, but in the end I hope we all want to be better people, grow together and have richer lives everyday. So relax, baby. Keep your shirt on, enjoy yourself and have a few cocktails… 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…

Dressed For Success

Posted by Brian Newman on September 27, 2011
Posted in: Chicks, Influential Men, Style. 1 Comment

Dressing for success doesn’t always mean just the clothes you put on. It always helps when you look sharp as a tack, but it’s the thoroughness in the preparation of your craft and skill set that will guarantee you a most favorable outcome. 

Back in the day when a great hunter went out to gather game for his families survival he certainly didn’t leave the cave unprepared for a victorious hunt. He first needed to learn the skills to ensure his success. Whether shooting arrows at stacks of hay, learning from other hunters or getting in the field and actually doing it, he knew that practice made perfect and he needed to always strive to be a consistent, reliable and better sportsman to feed his family. Same with a gambler. He doesn’t sit down at a table without a knowledge of the game, his opponents and enough money to cover the buy in. A fisherman is not going to go out without his rod, reel and bait for his hook. A musician can’t work without his instrument being in tune and well practised. 

For thousands of years men have had to do many things for survival, for money and for the girl. As Men we have to be prepared and to be successful and we need to have the right tools to thrive and survive. You can be the most intelligent man on the planet but if you’re not putting your best foot forward in your business and social interactions you’ll never reach the goals that you are striving for. You won’t get the money or the girl either. 

There are many ways to ensure a successful endeavor. One way is making sure you are well groomed. That means showered, shaved, cologned and dressed properly for the occasion at hand. If its a dinner meeting at a swank place you can almost never be too overdressed. A tuxedo is too much for a meeting, but break out your favorite suit, tie and cufflinks and go for it. If you show up in a t-shirt, jeans, dirty Chuck Taylor’s and a wrinkled blazer your first impression is immediately blown. That getup might get you free VD at a dive bar but it’s certainly not going to win over the minds of those at the meeting.

If you want to be a rocker you should be yourself and dress accordingly. You can’t force it with lots of leather, a 200 dollar haircut and a vintage Motley Cru t-shirt your mom bought you at Varvatos for 500 bucks. All that flash doesn’t hide that you can’t play more than 3 chords on your guitar. Don’t be a poser. In order to be a successful musician is to learn you craft and constantly be perfecting it. Just like all things in life. You will get no where without good preparation.My point is to be yourself always. You can’t force something that isn’t inside of you. People can tell when your not being genuine. Check out Brian Austin Greene forcing it. Besides getting Megan Fox into bed what has he done lately. 

Men should dress and act as they want to be perceived. Be yourself and shake what your mama gave you. Even if things don’t go your way all the time you can at least say you gave it your best crack at it. 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…


Keep It Old School

Posted by Brian Newman on July 23, 2011
Posted in: Style. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

There are many reasons people dress the way they do. Some dress to fit in a certain crowd, some just get by wearing what they’re used to and some set trends and influence the people around them. How we look is the first thing a person notices before hearing what you have to say, what you do for bread or what brand of whiskey turns you on. If you always put your best foot forward and look your best, others will take notice and respect you more for it. Lately our sense of taste has been desensitized by the constant badgering from media and other social outlets. Generations before us show that our commerce and cultures have always dictated what people are wearing at the time. For example, the brightly colored fabrics that were widely available in the 20’s quickly made way for the dark and muted fabrics of the 30’s and the Great Depression. People change with the times, it’s been going on since Adam and Eve. I don’t need to give you the history about what influences style (Google is widely available) but a return to Classicism and Romanticism would be a breath of fresh Chanel. Keep it Old School.

Here is the original “Scarface” doing just that with some well dressed muscle.  

Al Capone

Men used to get their style cues from the Silver Screen and newspapers. Today we slouch in front of a computer all day being bombarded with twitter vomit, invites from ill-rehearsed bands and Cialis ads. I can’t lie to you, I too am guilty of this generational attachment to the glowing apple. The modern Pandora’s box that can connect you to millions once you lift the lid. It can also be detrimental to your heart and your soul. What we’re watching, buying and what we listen to commands our lifestyle decisions. Whether you’re searching for vintage cufflinks and silk ties or scanning the Old Navy website for sweet deals is up to you. 

Fred Astaire

My mother used to say garbage in, garbage out and she was right. If you watch MTV all day, buy Ed Hardy and listen to 30 Seconds to Mars you’re going to look and act like garbage. If you’re checking out old Fred Astaire movies, listening to Frank Sinatra and spending time creating a wardrobe that fits who you are, you’re gonna start looking and acting like a real man. You’re social etiquette will greatly improve as will your quality of life. I’m not saying act like its 1940. Don’t cancel your internet, renounce your IPod and get a Pennsylvania 6-5000 phone number. I’m just saying that todays influx of laziness and accessibility leaves the common man little room for good manners and individuality.

Back in the day when men went to a party and they all had to wear the same white tie, black tux, white vest, they made it their own by small details. Notice these Hollywood kings sporting different shaped bow ties, their vests are cut differently and their pocket squares are all very distinctly folded. Theres nothing like the old days strutting around Hollywood, drinking champagne and sporting very fine bespoke tuxedos. You think these guys went home alone that night? I’ll bet my Cadillac that the answer is No. 

Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart. New Year’s Eve, 1957

If you always keep it old school you’ll always be right. 

Stay tuned for more ManLawMondays…